Cigarette maker

ABSTRACT

In a cigarette maker equipped with a surface on which continuous cigarette rods are assembled from respective strips of paper and streams of shredded tobacco, a cutter by which the rods are divided up into cigarette sticks, and guide ways by which the assembled rods are directed toward the cutter, the table or the guide ways, or both, will be positioned so that the rods advance along respective paths converging one with another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cigarette maker.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a cigarette-making machine of the type equipped with means by which to form two or more continuous cigarette rods.

It is the practice when manufacturing cigarettes to fashion a continuous cigarette rod from starting materials that consist in a strip of paper decoiled from a roll on the one hand, and a mass of shredded tobacco on the other.

In the course of the following specification, the term cigarette rod indicates the assemblage of the paper strip and the tobacco, from the moment when the tobacco is deposited on the paper through the step whereby the paper is wrapped around the stream of tobacco. The continuous rod formed in this way is fed toward a cutter device and divided up into single sticks, each of which will provide at least one cigarette.

Having undergone further processing operations if envisaged, such as the attachment of a filter tip, the cigarettes are conveyed to a further machine, typically a packer.

With the recent development of ultra high speed packers able to turn out several hundred packets per minute, the need arises to design cigarette makers such as can keep the new packers supplied more effectively, and thus ensure their increased potential can be exploited to the full.

The problem in question was addressed initially by coupling a high speed packer to two cigarette makers operating in parallel, each turning out a single cigarette rod.

Though effective functionally, this solution involved a significantly increased cost burden, due mainly to the duplication of mechanical components, but also to the additional testing, servicing and manning requirements involved.

To the end of overcoming the drawbacks connected with the adoption of two cigarette makers operating in parallel, but without substantially increasing production costs, the industry adopted new machines designed to fashion two continuous cigarette rods simultaneously, utilizing a single strip of paper decoiled from a roll, on the one hand, and a single mass of shredded tobacco on the other.

Further improvements since made to the functional effectiveness of packers have shown clearly that even cigarette makers capable of assembling two rods simultaneously are not capable of matching the increased output capacity of the new packers.

In addition, the solution of assembling more than two cigarette rods one alongside another has been rendered problematical hitherto by difficulties connected, in particular, with the step of cutting the rods into sticks, which typically involves the use of a single rotating cutter device equipped in most cases with two peripheral blades.

In effect, a cigarette maker equipped to assemble two continuous rods can be likened, for instance, to a machine producing a single imaginary rod of which the diameter is equal to the distance between centres of the two rods, plus the diameter of one rod, and will measure 3-4 cm or thereabouts.

The operation of cutting such a rod calls for faultless adjustment of the cutter device, as the time for which each cutting edge remains in contact with the rod would be much longer than in the case of a conventional single-rod type machine.

In other words, and by reason also of the high speed at which the rod advances, the risk of making an imperfect cut, and in particular of a cut not generated exactly at right angles to the axis of the rod, is increased significantly by the diameter of the imaginary rod.

The object of the present invention is to provide a high speed cigarette maker such as will be simple and economical to implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The stated object is realized according to the present invention in a cigarette maker comprising means by which to form at least two continuous cigarette rods from respective paper strips and respective streams of shredded tobacco, also cutter means by which the rods are divided into discrete cigarette sticks, and guide means by which each rod is directed toward the cutter means. To advantage, the forming means or the guide means, or both, will combine to create respective mutually convergent paths along which the rods are directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the cigarette maker according to the invention, viewed schematically in a side elevation and with certain parts omitted in the interests of clarity;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the cigarette maker in FIG. 1, viewed schematically from above and with certain parts omitted in the interests of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a detail of the cigarette maker in FIG. 1, viewed schematically in a section taken on III-III in FIG. 1 with certain parts omitted in the interests of clarity;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of an alternative embodiment of the cigarette maker according to the invention, viewed schematically from above and with certain parts omitted in the interests of clarity;

FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of an alternative embodiment of the cigarette maker according to the invention, viewed schematically in section and with certain parts omitted in the interests of clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, 1 denotes a portion, in its entirety, of a cigarette making machine able to fashion a plurality of continuous cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c simultaneously, as indicated by the section drawing of FIG. 3.

In particular, albeit implying no limitation, the drawings illustrate a machine able to form three cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c simultaneously.

The machine 1 comprises a frame 3 carrying a feed unit by means of which to advance three strips 4 of paper, each marginally greater in width than the developable circumference of the single rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c in production. The feed unit in question is essentially familiar in embodiment, and indicated schematically by a block 5 in FIG. 1.

The machine 1 further comprises a feeder device 6 supplying shredded tobacco 7, also a table 8 on which the continuous cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c are assembled.

The assembly table 8, likewise carried by the frame 3, comprises three conveyor belts 9 a, 9 b and 9 c associated respectively with each of the three paper strips 4.

The three belts 9 a, 9 b and 9 c are looped around a plurality of rollers 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 11 a, 11 b, 11 c and 12 and set in motion by a drive roller 13, in such a way that the strips 4 are caused to advance along respective predetermined paths P1, P2 and P3 extending along the assembly table 8 and indicated in FIG. 2.

The feed unit 5 is designed to advance each of the three strips 4 onto a respective belt 9 a, 9 b and 9 c, in such a manner that one face 4 a of the strip 4 is offered in contact to a top branch 14 of the relative belt 9, 9 b and 9 c.

The top branch 14 of each belt 9, 9 b and 9 c extends along the assembly table 8 between sets of return rollers 10 a-10 b-10 c and 11 a-11 b-11 c located respectively downstream and upstream relative to the direction of movement of the selfsame belts.

Referring to FIG. 2, each belt 9 a, 9 b and 9 c is designed to advance a respective strip 4 along a respective path P1, P2 and P3 in a predetermined direction F1, F2 and F3, passing through a loading station 15 (FIG. 1) located along the selfsame path P1, P2 and P3.

The loading station 15 coincides with a point at which a continuous and substantially uniform stream of tobacco 7 is released onto the upwardly directed face 4 b of each strip 4 by the feeder device 6 aforementioned.

The three streams of tobacco are substantially identical one to another and generated in familiar manner while clinging to three downwardly directed faces 16 a presented by the bottom branches of three respective aspirating conveyor belts 16, familiar likewise in embodiment, forming part of the feeder device 6 and extending in part above the assembly table 8.

As mentioned in the preamble and reiterated here for additional clarity, the cigarette rod 2 a, 2 b or 2 c is identifiable as the assemblage of the paper strip 4 and the tobacco 7, from the moment in which the tobacco is released onto the face 4 b of the strip 4 at the loading station 15 to the moment, subsequent to the paper being gathered around the tobacco filler into a tubular wrapper 17, when the assembled rod is separated by a cutter device into discrete lengths or sticks, not illustrated, that will emerge ultimately as single cigarettes.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the aforementioned cutter device is of conventional type, appearing as a cylindrical cutter head 18 rotatable about an axis 19 substantially parallel to the assembly table 8, and presenting a pair of diametrically opposed blades 18 a. In the plan views of FIGS. 2 and 4, the cutter head is indicated schematically as a block, likewise denoted 18.

The machine 1 further comprises guide means 100, interposed between the downstream rollers 11 a, 11 b and 11 c and the cutter head 18, serving to direct the rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c from the runout ends of the respective belts 9 a, 9 b and 9 c into the path of the blades 18 a.

The table 8 and the guide means 100 combine to establish the aforementioned paths P1, P2 and P3 followed by the respective cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 b.

The assembly table 8 comprises three divisions consisting in beams on which the three continuous rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c are formed, denoted 20 a, 20 b and 20 c respectively.

The forming beams 20 a, 20 b and 20 c are identical one to another, conventional in embodiment and not illustrated in detail. The three beams extend one beside another along the relative paths P1, P2 and P3 downstream of the loading station 15, following the feed directions F1, F2 and F3 of the strips 4. The three paths P1, P2 and P3 are convergent, as will be explained in due course, and in particular, the two lateral divisions 20 a and 20 c are disposed symmetrically and convergently on opposite sides of the central division 20 b.

The cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c are illustrated in section, in FIG. 3, and in plan in FIGS. 1 and 4.

As discernible from FIG. 3, which presents a sectional view of the central or middle beam 20 b, each beam 20 a, 20 b and 20 c affords a corresponding groove 21 proportioned to accommodate a relative belt 9 a, 9 b and 9 c. The groove 21 presents a cross-sectional profile of varying geometry that narrows to the point of assuming an essentially cylindrical shape with a radius of curvature substantially matched to the radius of the single cigarette.

Each belt 9 a, 9 b and 9 c thus extends along a respective groove 21 in contact with the concave profile, and is caused to bend progressively until forced into the substantially cylindrical shape aforementioned.

As a result of the transverse deformation of the belt, the relative paper strip 4 is caused likewise to roll around the respective stream of tobacco 7 and form the corresponding tubular wrapper 17.

At least one longitudinal edge of each paper strip 4 is engaged by a gumming device of familiar embodiment (not illustrated), and thereupon joined to the other edge to seal the rod 2 a, 2 b and 2 c.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation showing the cross-sectional profile of the central beam 20 b at a point along the feed direction F2 beyond the formation of the substantially cylindrical section described above. In effect, the section shown in FIG. 3 illustrates a moment in which the belt 9 b, rolled previously into a cylindrical tube to form the rod 2 b, begins opening out again gradually to a flat profile before passing around the cylindrical return roller 11 b.

More exactly, the upstream rollers 10 a, 10 b and 10 c and the downstream rollers 11 a, 11 b and 11 c at the opposite ends of the respective branches 14 are necessarily cylindrical, presenting an axial length substantially equal to the width of the respective belt 9 a, 9 b and 9 c, since a roller of any shape other than cylindrical will not allow the belt 9 a, 9 b and 9 c to form a clean loop.

Conventionally, the cutter device 18 operates in conjunction with a striker device by which the continuous rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c are supported and guided during the step of cutting the sticks.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the feed paths P1, P2 and P3 lie substantially in a common plane G, at least on a line coinciding with or immediately upstream of the cutter head 18.

The feed paths P1, P2 and P3 and the relative beams 20 a, 20 b and 20 c are shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 as being positioned one relative to the next, in the common plane G, at an angle a of convergence that has been accentuated in the drawings for the sake of clarity, but which in practice will be less than 5°.

Preferably, the angle a of convergence will be less than 1°.

Experimental trials have shown that particularly advantageous results are obtained with the paths disposed at an angle a of convergence in the order of 0° 30′.

In an alternative embodiment of the machine 1, not illustrated in detail, the feed paths P1, P2 and P3 might not occupy a common plane, at least on a line coinciding with or immediately upstream of the cutter head 18. In a preferred embodiment of this type, the central or middle path P2 of the three paths P1, P2 and P3 will lie above or below the level of the plane occupied by the two outer or lateral paths P1 and P3.

With reference to FIG. 5, which illustrates schematically how the cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c are arranged in an example of the aforementioned alternative embodiment, the three paths P1, P2 and P3 followed by the three cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c combine, in a plane perpendicular to at least one of the paths P1, P2 and P3 and coinciding with or immediately upstream of the cutter head 18, to describe corresponding points T1, T2 and T3 on a circumference C of predetermined diameter.

Advantageously, this arrangement is particularly convenient when transferring the cigarette sticks onto the infeed drum of a filter tip attachment machine and/or when dividing up the rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c with a cutter device 18 that consists in a rotor of cylindrical shape carrying a pair of peripheral blades 18 a, as described above.

In the example of FIG. 2, the central belt 9 b associated with the middle beam 20 b extends further along the relative path P2 in the respective feed direction F2 than the two belts 9 a and 9 c located on either side.

The central belt 9 b reassumes its flat profile, beyond the relative groove 21 of varying geometry, along a part of the respective feed path P2 that lies downstream of the part of each path P1 and P3 along which the lateral belts 9 a and 9 c reassume their flat profile after leaving the grooves 21.

In short, thanks to this arrangement, there is no interference of the three belts one with another notwithstanding the convergence of the three feed paths P1, P2 and P3. In other words, the runout end of the middle belt 9 b extends a certain distance beyond the corresponding ends of the two lateral belts 9 a and 9 c.

In practice, the belts 9 a, 9 b and 9 c are made of a material such that they cannot be looped around rollers tending to induce deformation (rollers with concave surfaces, for example), reducing the width at the point where the three paths P1, P2 and P3 converge. Accordingly, given that the three belts must be looped over cylindrical rollers of which the axial length will be matched to the width of the belts, as aforementioned, the three runout portions must present the type of configuration illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly table 8 in an embodiment alternative to the one illustrated in FIG. 2 and described in detail above. The table 8 of FIG. 4 again presents three belts 9 a, 9 b and 9 c extending substantially one alongside the other along the relative paths P1, P2 and P3, from the upstream rollers 10 a, 10 b and 10 c to the downstream rollers 11 a, 11 b and 11 c. In contrast to the table of FIG. 2, however, the downstream rollers 11 a, 11 b and 11 c are positioned substantially alongside one another so that there is no projection of the central belt 9 b beyond the lateral belts 9 a and 9 c.

In the context of the machine 1, the belts 9 a, 9 b and 9 c constitute means 22 by which the rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c are conveyed along the corresponding feed paths P1, P2 and P3.

The guide means 100, indicated schematically in FIGS. 1 and 4 as blocks, can also be embodied so as to incorporate the striker device supporting and guiding the rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c during the step of cutting the rods into sticks.

The operation of the machine 1 is easily deduced from the foregoing description, and therefore will not be described further.

It will be noted all the same that the convergent arrangement of at least one part of the paths P1, P2 and P3 is instrumental in enabling the cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c to be kept particularly close together on reaching the cutter head 18, and thus ensuring that the sticks are cut correctly.

In further possible embodiments of the present invention, not illustrated but falling nonetheless within the scope of the disclosure, the convergent part of the feed paths P1, P2 and P3 could extend along the table 8 only, in which case the rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c would advance parallel one with another downstream of the convergent part, oriented by the guide means 100, or alternatively, the convergence could be limited to the guide means 100 only, in which case these would be equipped with suitable means by which to take up the cigarette rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c from beams 20 a, 20 b and 20 c substantially parallel one with another.

In particular, and referring to the examples of FIGS. 2 and 4, even if the angle of convergence between the two outermost paths P1 and P3 can be considered negligible in relation to the overall length of the forming beams and therefore having no influence on correct adjustment of the transverse cut made through the rods 2 a, 2 b and 2 c, the rods could nonetheless be diverted immediately upstream of the cutter head 18, by the guide means 100, in such a manner as to bring the paths P1, P2 and P3 parallel one with another. 

1) A cigarette making machine comprising means by which to form at least two continuous cigarette rods from respective paper strips and respective streams of shredded tobacco, cutter means by which the rods are divided into discrete cigarette sticks, and means by which each rod is guided toward the cutter means, wherein the forming means and/or the guide means combine to create respective mutually convergent paths along which the rods are directed. 2) A machine as in claim 1, wherein forming means comprise three divisions along which to fashion three respective continuous cigarette rods. 3) A machine as in claim 2, wherein the three rods follow respective feed paths occupying the same plane, at least on a line coinciding with the cutter means. 4) A machine as in claim 2, wherein the paths followed by the rods coincide with respective points on a circumference located in a plane coinciding at least with the cutter means and lying perpendicular to at least one of the feed paths. 5) A machine as in claim 2, wherein forming means comprise a central division, also two lateral divisions disposed symmetrically on either side of the central division and convergent one with another. 6) A machine as in claim 5, wherein the divisions of the forming means comprise respective power driven looped belts each presenting a top branch slidable along a prescribed distance in contact with a groove of varying cross-section, of which the belt occupying the central division is of length dissimilar to the length of the two belts occupying the two lateral divisions. 7) A machine as in claim 6, wherein the central belt extends beyond the lateral belts. 8) A machine as in claim 7, wherein the central belt reassumes a normal flat profile, beyond the relative groove of varying cross-section, along a part of the relative feed path lying downstream of the parts of the two paths along which the lateral belts reassume a flat profile, beyond the respective grooves of varying cross-section. 9) A machine as in claim 2, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of less than 5°. 10) A machine as in claim 9, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of less than 1°. 11) A machine as in claim 10, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of approximately 0° 30′. 12) A machine as in claim 3, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of less than 5°. 13) A machine as in claim 4, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of less than 5°. 14) A machine as in claim 5, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of less than 5°. 15) A machine as in claim 6, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of less than 5°. 16) A machine as in claim 7, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of less than 5°. 17) A machine as in claim 8, wherein the feed paths converge at an angle of less than 5°. 